Knockdown scaffolding



Aug. 9, 1932.

Filed Feb. `ll. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l All@ 9,L 1932. J. F. cAvANAGH 1,871,041

I KNOCKDOWN SCAFFOLDING Eiled Feb. l1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 9, 1932- J. F. cAvANAGl-l KNOCKDOWN SCAFFOLDING Filed Feb, 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 B JIJ 0591717 lgaog Patented Aug. 9, 1932 Um-TED @STATES 'JOHN F. CAVAN'GH, 05E RQBBIN'SDALEE,

rnmeirnmiviv scAnFoLniNe Application sied .rebmaryir :1931. serial no. 514,949.

invention provides lrnoclr-down scajfj folding of simple construction and;comparativelylow cos-t that is capable of beingquiclly put up in various dierentformatlons t suit the conditions of the work and quickly taken 'down after the workhas beendone, Yand withoutdama'ge to the scaffolding and without the use of nails or bolts. Such ascaiolding not only `saves waste'in the use of lum- ;m ber, but a1 great amount of time inthe setting up and taking down thereof, The scaft0ld ing is capable of use not only in interior work inplaces suchas cathedrals which have vaulted-domes in various irregular formations reg 5 quiring finish or `redecoration or l cleaning, but is capable of outside use." The interior use, however, requires the most elaborate arrangement of scaffolding"andV while usually more diflicult to accomplish may with vthis,

2o improved scaffolding, be readily and quickly accomplished inthe most :ecient'vvay "The scaffolding is-capable of being made entirely of woodand preferably is madeentirely of wood. t involves as its salient novel feature, columns of novel construction,

but thesefare arranged to interlock with platform 'supporting beams a very novel and etcient way :as will hereinafter appear.

` 1r"fhe invention is illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings wherein like charactersindicate like parts throughout the v.several views. Y 'Referring tothe drawings: p 'l @is a vertical section .takencentrally through ai'structure such as a cathedral and s'how`ing'the improved 'scaolding applied therein; Y Y Y Figi' is a transverse section 'taken on the line2-2zof Fig. '1; a 40 Fig. Qais a fragmentary view correspondinjgto Fig. 2,`but,illustrating a somewhatdifferent dome formation Fig. is a perspective showing one of the columns 'of'lthe scaffolding; v y v "j Fig. 4: is a ,fragmentary perspective View v showing the ends of two columns connected a platformsupported on one ofthe beams; 55 l.

and

Fig.. Z is a sectiontalren approximately-on the .line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Q l

' IThe" floor, Walls .and ceiling structure y of the cathedral or building ein which thefscafi folding is installed are indicated, respective- 'ly,"by "the numerals 8, 9 and 10. The columnsf of 'the structure, as preferably designed, faire made `up each of four upright Wooden strips 11 and 'vertically spaced' blocks 12, rhesaia Strips beingaoanected-to said blocks preferably by nails permanently applied. By the blocks l2 7 the strips 11 are spaced so that rectangular openings 13 and 14 are formed through the .columns at closely es,

spaced places along the longtudinaldimenf i@ sions of the column. 'The beam passages 14 extend at 'rl-ight angles to the beam passages 13 Aand @both extend transversely through the Vcc'rluinnsgat right angles to the axis yof vthe .5 column. At their ends, the columns 4are .preferably formed'with flat surfaces termi- `n'ating"flush with the end blocks l2,so that when `(desirable,the columns -can be placed endA toV end to `aord "longcolumns vmade up 80 of several columnsor column'sections. The v.platform-supporting 'beams `'are indicated by the numeral 21.5,A and platform boards are ndicated by .the numeral 16JV vThe numerall'f? indicates Wedges, preferably tapered and g5 .adaptedtobensedaslillers .to loclrthe beams 'in the columns in .rigid adjustment .and farrangement.

lThe columns and the beams may be andpreferahly 'will be maderin vgal'ious ,.dierent. I9

l driving tlie wedges 17 on top .ofi the .beam

lengths but inasmuch as the beams can be projectedthrough the columns to any desired extent, a beam of agiven length will answer wherethe span of the beamy used will vary to a very large extent. The drawings clearly illustrate various different ways in which the columns, beams and platform boards may be assembled to answer the purpose of the particular job and it will be noted that the platform boards can be laid on beams running in either direction. Vl? ig. 4: shows the manner Lof splicing together overlapped endsof columns or VcolumnV sections by extending the ends of the beam'through aligned beam passages 14 thereofwand then rigidly securing the said lapped ends by and under the overlying bloclrs l2. When support the columns in vertical positions vand when a number of such 'beams andcolumns are connected, the whole lscaffolding, structure becomes very rigid. The openingsvin the columns asI best illustrated'in ig, '3, can

be varied in'their vertical sp'acing'and in theirv vertical dimensions and inasmuch as ularly illustrates the mannerin which short which, in turn the Vbeam can be yextended through a column wit: through'the passagesl orlt at will, it isevident that the beamsv can be supported at very many different elevations. Moreover, slighter variations in'the'elevatio'n of a beam can-bedetermined by driving 'both ofthe wedges in under lthe particular beam or even byd'riving one wedge over theY top and the other yover Vthe bottom of the beam. vIn'some cases, the so-calledwedges will not needto be tapered, but the tapered wedges Vare desirable in mostins'taiices because theyV permit atight locking together V'of the columns Vand beams. Y 5' 1 The features just noted make it possible to maintain substantially level platforms on beams resting with their lower ends on an inclined floor such as found in theaters and frequently in churches and cathedrals and which feature` is illustrated in F ig. l. Eig. l5 illustrates that the beams extended atright angles one tothe other, can be extended through a column at any one of' many different elevations. Fig. 2 shows various different ways of supportingltransverse beams of varying lengths so as to bring the platform 'boards' just at theright place for the workmen working'on the walls and it will be noted, by reference to this andbyreference to Fig, 2P; that the structure may be built 'up into contracted beams in such manner that allfportions ofthe interior `surface maybe readily reached by workmen. Fig. 2a partic- Ycolumns can be supported on a platform,

`, is supported from bea-ms car- The scaffolding described is, 'of course, ca-

angles.

pable of use generally wherever the walls of a building are to be worked upon.` I have commercially used this device with great success on the interiors of a church or cathedral e `extending therethrough in two directions at the wedges are thus driven in, they rigidly right angles, said beams being extensible through said beam passages in two direc-` through valigned. passages of the lapped ends of the column sections;

columns, beams and platform-.forming elements, said columns having beam passages extending therethrough in two directions at right angl-es, said beams liieingy n extensible through said ,beam passages in'two directions and the scaffolding-forming elements being supportable on the beams supportedpby the columns, certain of saidcolumns beingl made up of sections having overlapped ends, and certain of said beams Ibeing passedv through aligned passagesl of the lapped endsof the column sections',and wedges applied against said beams and tightly driven into andfilling the beam passages of said columns and rigidly connecting said column sections and beams.v

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said columns are made up each of four strips and interposed blocks vertically spaced to'afford horizontal beam passages extending through the columnsl in directions at right 4:. A column for knock-down scaffolding [comprising fourwo'ode'n strips and spacing lblocks interposed between and rigidly secured to the 'said four strips'and spacing, the

strips in two directions soas to affordbeam passages extending through thelcolumn in two directions at right angles.

5. A, column forl knock-down scaffolding comprising four woodenV stripsv and spacing blocks interposed between and rigidly secured to the said four strips andspacing the strips in two directions so as toafford beam passages extending through thecolumn in two directions at right angles',in combination 2. A' knock-clown vscaolding comprising.

with beams insertable through said column in two directions, wedges insertablein the beam iso passages of said columns and against the f beams, the beams thus supported being adapted to support platform elements.

6. A plurality of columns such as defined in claim 4, in combination with a plurality o Wooden beams insertable through the beam passages of said columns in two directions and adapted to support platform elements,A and means for locking said beams in said beam passages, thereby connecting said columns Y and beams n a rigid self-sustaining structure. e

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. Y JOHN F. CAVANAGH. s 

